Detached Garage Development

The City of St. Albert regulated Detached Garages and Detached Carports in residential areas, as per Land Use Bylaw 9/2005, Section 8.11, "Detached Garage and Detached Carport." Property owners who wish to build a Detached Garage or Detached Carport are required to obtain a development permit.

Bylaw Requirements

A Detached Garage or Detached Carport must not be:

Located less than 1m from the side or rear property lines of the lot;
Located less than 4.5m from the rear property line of a lot for a laned lot or a lesser setback at the discretion of the development Officer, who shall have consideration for the space needed between the garage and the laneway;
Located less than 1.5m from the principal building on the lot;
More than 4.5m in height;
Encroaching onto a required front yard;
Architecturally incompatible with the principal dwelling unit; or
Encroaching over a utility right-of-way or easement. *

* A Detached Garage or Detached Carport may be allowed to encroach onto a utility right-of-way or easement, however, all private utility companies must consent to the encroachment, and an encroachment agreement may be required and subject to a separate fee and review process.

Detached Garage Drawing

Application Checklist

To receive a timely decision on your application, please ensure that your application is clear, legible and accurate. If any part of your application is missing, unreadable or inaccurate, your application will be deemed incomplete, and a decision will not be rendered.

Your application must include

Download and Complete the:
Building / Development Permit Application Form
Fees = $180.50, including:
- Development permit - $82.00
- Building permit - $94.00
- Safety Codes - $4.50
Two (2) copies of the site plan in metric (minimum scale 1:100) showing:
- The footprint of the detached garage/carport;
- All buildings, decks, and any other object that may be considered in the decision;
- Any utility rights-of-way or easements;
- All setback dimensions from the proposed structure to any property line and on-site principal building;
- Existing and proposed site grades and any special topographical features or site conditions;
- Wall and ceiling construction materials and details;
- Dimensions of the proposed structure;
- Additional information may be requested upon review.
Two (2) copies of elevation plans in metric (minimum scale 1:100) showing:
- An accurate depiction of the detached garage or carport from each side, including the type of exterior finishes, window and door openings, roof pitch and overall height from the lowest point of the finished grade to the highest point of the roof.

Filing an Appeal

If your development permit application has been approved with a variance, the City must notify affected parties within a specified radius of the approval. Property owners affected by the decision have the right to appeal within 21 days of the receipt of the decision. A decision may also be appealed by the applicant if the Development Officer fails to issue a permit within 40 days, or the applicant does not agree with the decision of the Development Officer.

Note: The information contained herein only applies to provisions as set out in the City of St. Albert Land Use Bylaw. Compliance with the Alberta Building Code is subject to a separate review process. It is the responsibility of the applicant to comply with any other regulation, code, or legislation not covered under the Land Use Bylaw.
Additional fees apply to file an appeal, encroachment agreements and building permit applications. The applicant does not have a right of appeal if the Development Officer fails to issue a Development Permit within 40 days if the applicant or owner has signed an extension agreement in accordance with section 684 of the Municipal Government Act.